Are There Different Types Of Black Walnut Trees?

Yes, there are several types of black walnut trees such as the Great Lakes black walnut and a hybrid black walnut that is a cross between a great Lakes Black walnut and the butternut tree.

Do People Steal Black Walnut Trees?

Yes, unfortunately, black walnut trees are sometimes stolen by individuals who are looking to profit from their valuable wood. The wood can fetch a high price, especially when it is harvested from mature trees that have a larger diameter.

What Are Black Walnuts?

Black walnuts are the nuts produced by the black walnut tree. They have a hard, dark brown to black shell that is deeply grooved and rough, enclosing a light brown, flavorful kernel.

The Lure of Black Walnut: Exploring the Immense Profitability of Walnut Trees

Discover the art of cultivating black walnut for profit. Learn why this premium timber tree is stolen from farmers’ fields, cemeteries and city parks and how get in on the lucrative black walnut market that includes a complete guide on how to grow your own.

Black walnut trees are highly valued for their beautiful, dark-colored wood and scarcity of wide dimensional boards and top-grade veneer. The wood is used by furniture makers, cabinet makers, and woodworkers because of its rich, dark color, attractive grain pattern, and resistance to splitting.

The scarcity of wide dimensional boards and top-grade veneer is due to the slow growth rate of black walnut trees and the fact that they are not widely planted for commercial purposes. The supply of high-quality black walnut wood is limited because of this, which drives up its value and makes it a sought-after and expensive commodity.

People Steal These Trees

Black Walnut is so valuable that people steal these trees.

In 2015, Missouri man got a two-year prison sentence for stealing black walnut trees worth more than $120,000. The man had cut down the trees from a farmer's property and sold the wood to a sawmill.
In 2017, a man in Indiana had cut down more than 20 trees from a state forest and was in the process of cutting the logs with a portable mill when he was caught.
In 2018, a man in Oregon caught stealing black walnut trees from a cemetery was charged with theft and criminal mischief.
In 2019, a man in Pennsylvania was caught stealing black walnut trees from a farm.
In another case, a Pennsylvania man was sentenced to prison in after he was caught stealing black walnut trees from a city park in the middle of the night.

Some estimates top 100 million dollars for all the mature Black Walnut growing in city parks and cemeteries.

Knot-Free, Clear Wood Is The Most Valuable

Knot-free, clear black walnut wood is considered the most valuable because it is easier to work with and certainly more attractive. This makes clear walnut wood desirable for high-end furniture, cabinetry, and veneer.

To be considered knot-free, the trunk of a black walnut must be relatively straight and free of any branches, knots, or other defects for a significant portion of its length. For veneer-grade wood, the clear portion of the tree trunk must be at least 12 feet long and free of any branches or defects.

The value of black walnut wood varies according to board size and quality of the wood. Clear wood from larger, older trees is typically the most valuable, as it is rarer and harder to come by.

In addition to knot-free, clear wood, black walnut wood with unique grain patterns or other attractive features may also be highly valued. Burl wood, for example, which is characterized by irregular growth patterns, can be particularly valuable due to its distinctive appearance.

A slow growing tree, Black Walnut can take 40 years before it can be harvested for wide-plank board and veneer, which makes investing in typical tree plantations a challenge even though the wood is quite valuable.

Calculate The Value Of A Black Walnut Tree

Black Walnut Tree Plantations

A concern for timber wood investors is return on investment (ROI), not whether they will make money but how much time it takes to make it. It can take up to 40 years or more to see a return on capital for most hardwoods, 50 if you want to really want a big a return. This is but one reason why Black Walnut is so valuable. Another is the rarity of large clear trunk trees. To achieve an earlier return on capital requires a new approach to tree growing.

Plantations by the Tree Row

Designing a commercial hardwood tree plantation involves several factors that can affect the spacing between trees and distance between rows and include the species of tree being planted, the intended use of the trees (e.g. timber production, conservation, or recreation), and local climate and soil conditions.

In general, the spacing between trees and distance between rows for hardwood tree plantations can range from 6 to 12 feet between trees and 10 to 20 feet between rows. This allows for efficient use of space while allowing trees to grow to their full potential.

For species like black walnut, which have a larger leaf canopy, wider spacing is needed to produce higher-quality wood. In some cases, spacing may be as wide as 25 to 30 feet between trees.

Planting Tree Spirals

A system of growing trees faster has been developed by Tree Plantation LLC in Florida. Black Walnut trees are spaced along either an Archimedean or Fibonacci spiral depending on whether the planation is mono-cropped or mixed with different species of trees.

Advantages Of A Mono-Cropped Planation

Trees are spaced equally and will grow more or less uniformly throughout the plantation and tree maintenance activities like pruning and culling easier and less problematic. Shadowing (the process of one tree shading the tree growing next to it because it happens to be growing faster) is virtually eliminated. Non-cropped trees also grow straighter because they are not trying to trunk and branch into spaces of light that filter through the canopy of taller trees. Mono-cropped black walnut trees can also be planted closer together in the plantation.

Sometimes There Is A Need For A Bush Mixed Plantation

In some instances, it would be beneficial to introduce a mix of environmentally compatible trees mixed in with the black walnut. A mixed tree plantation creates a controlled example of a mix of different trees found in nature alongside black walnut, which tends to control insects and climate fluctuations better.

Some of the most common tree species found growing alongside black walnut trees include:

White oak: White oak trees are often found growing alongside black walnut trees, because they both prefer well-drained, nutrient-rich soils.
Hickory: Hickory trees are also commonly found growing alongside black walnut trees, as they have similar soil and sunlight requirements. Hickory trees can also help to improve soil fertility, which can benefit the growth of nearby black walnut trees.
Sugar maple: Sugar maple trees can grow in a range of soil types, including those preferred by black walnut trees. Maple trees can provide shade and shelter for black walnut trees and may also help to improve soil fertility.
American beech: American beech trees are often found growing alongside black walnut trees, as they both prefer well-drained, fertile soils. Beech trees can also help to improve soil structure, which can benefit the growth of nearby black walnut trees.
Red oak: Red oak trees are commonly found growing alongside black walnut trees, as they both thrive in similar soil conditions. Red oak trees can also provide shade and shelter for black walnut trees and may help to improve soil fertility.

tall branch free black walnut tree seedlings

The Wood of A Black Walnut, Sized And Prized

Black walnut wood is prized for its rich, dark color, attractive grain pattern, and durability. It is typically straight-grained with a fine to medium texture, and may exhibit a range of colors from light to dark brown, often with darker streaks or highlights.

When milled, black walnut wood can be cut and sized in a variety of ways, including dimensional board sizes, such as 4/4, 5/4, and 8/4, which refer to the thickness of the board in inches. Common board widths are typically between 4 and 12 inches, with lengths ranging from 6 to 16 feet.

Black walnut wood can be used in a variety of woodworking projects, including furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and decorative trim. The wood's unique characteristics and grain patterns make it a popular choice for high-end projects where aesthetics are important.

Different designs of black walnut wood trim can be created from black walnut wood depending on the desired style and application. Examples of wood trim designs include crown molding, baseboards, chair rails, and door and window casings. These trim pieces can be milled in a variety of profiles and shapes to achieve the desired look.

When black walnut wood is milled, the resulting grain pattern depends on the angle of the cut. Half-cut (flat-sawn) boards have a distinctive "cathedral" pattern with arched lines and wavy grain. Cross-cut (rift-sawn) boards have a straighter grain pattern with less figure. Quarter-cut (rift-and-quarter-sawn) boards have a straight, vertical grain pattern with a uniform appearance.

Overall, black walnut wood is highly valued for its unique characteristics, durability, and versatility. Its distinctive grain patterns and color make it a popular choice for high-end woodworking projects, and it can be milled in a variety of ways to achieve different looks and styles.